Method and apparatus for communicating information between a headend and subscriber over a wide area network
First Claim
1. A time division multiple access scheme for transporting data over a network between a headend and a plurality of gateways comprising the steps of:
- transmitting a first polling signal from a headend to a plurality of gateways during a first downstream time slot, the first polling signal polling a first gateway;
transmitting a first message from the first gateway to the headend in response to the first polling signal during a first upstream time slot;
transmitting a first asynchronous transfer signal from the headend to the plurality of gateways during a second downstream time slot, the first asynchronous transfer signal indicating availability for transmission by any available gateway of the plurality of gateways during a second upstream time slot;
dynamically allocating a third upstream time slot for at least one of an asynchronous transmission or a polled communication;
transmitting a second polling signal if the third upstream time slot has been allocated to the polled communication from the headend to the plurality of gateways during a third downstream time slot, wherein the second polling signal polls a second gateway, and in response to the second polling signal the second gateway transmits a second message during the third upstream time slot; and
transmitting a second asynchronous transfer signal if the third upstream time slot has been allocated to the asynchronous transmission from the headend to the plurality of gateways during the third downstream time slot, wherein the second asynchronous transfer signal indicates availability for transmission by any available gateway of the plurality of gateways during the third upstream time slot.
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Abstract
A distribution system architecture provides a platform for communicating energy services and non-traditional services as part of an overall communications infrastructure. A native message, regardless of the source of the message'"'"'s application, is divided into data packets that are encapsulated and transmitted through an open network from a headend to a gateway or from the gateway to the headend. The receiver of the encapsulated data reassembles the original native message from the encapsulated data packets. The encapsulating information can include a header which incorporates a time division multiple access transport scheme. The encapsulating information at the headend provisions the gateways from the headend in a real time fashion and the headend dynamically allocates the gateway functions of listening, talking and acknowledging. A third of the time slots are allocated for polling each of the gateways during a predetermined period, a second third of the time slots are allocated to asynchronous, unsolicited communications from the gateways, and the final third of the slots are reserved for either polled or asynchronous communications. The reserved slots are dynamically allocated by the headend based on system and gateway needs.
187 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A time division multiple access scheme for transporting data over a network between a headend and a plurality of gateways comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a first polling signal from a headend to a plurality of gateways during a first downstream time slot, the first polling signal polling a first gateway; transmitting a first message from the first gateway to the headend in response to the first polling signal during a first upstream time slot; transmitting a first asynchronous transfer signal from the headend to the plurality of gateways during a second downstream time slot, the first asynchronous transfer signal indicating availability for transmission by any available gateway of the plurality of gateways during a second upstream time slot; dynamically allocating a third upstream time slot for at least one of an asynchronous transmission or a polled communication; transmitting a second polling signal if the third upstream time slot has been allocated to the polled communication from the headend to the plurality of gateways during a third downstream time slot, wherein the second polling signal polls a second gateway, and in response to the second polling signal the second gateway transmits a second message during the third upstream time slot; and transmitting a second asynchronous transfer signal if the third upstream time slot has been allocated to the asynchronous transmission from the headend to the plurality of gateways during the third downstream time slot, wherein the second asynchronous transfer signal indicates availability for transmission by any available gateway of the plurality of gateways during the third upstream time slot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification